In Gisborne you can feel the very essence of New Zealand. Eastland is a charming and unspoilt part of the country where vineyards cloak the hills, white-sand surf beaches beckon and authentic Māori culture is alive and well and easily accessible to visitors. The East Cape is the perfect place for a soul-satisfying road trip.

Around the Gisborne & Eastland Region

Eastland rewards visitors with a taste of soothingly slow-paced life. A place where barefoot children ride two-up on ponies and marae are still integral for communities, Eastland offers an unpackaged glimpse into Māori culture. But don’t think you’ll be leaving contemporary comforts behind – Eastland’s sophisticated side is evident in vineyards producing New Zealand’s best chardonnay and in the main centre, Gisborne, where café and surf culture blend.

Regional Destinations

Hicks Bay Beautiful and remote bay popular for swimming and surfing.

Te Araroa Home of the largest pōhutukawa tree in the world, Te Waha o Rerekohu.

Tolaga Bay Historic wharf, swimming beach and start of Cook’s Cove Walkway.

Gisborne Surf and café culture combine in the main centre.

Highlights

Climb Mount Hikurangi to see the sunrise. Join a guided tour out to the remote lighthouse at East Cape. Wander along historic Tolaga Bay Wharf. Go on a multi-day hike in Te Urewera National Park. Taste Eastland chardonnay at a vineyard.

Mount Hikurangi

The summit of this Eastland peak, at 1,754 metres, is the first place in New Zealand (and therefore among the earliest places in the world) to see the sunrise each day.